The University of Houston Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Alliance is sponsoring
a campus toy drive to benefit Child Advocates, a Houston volunteer organization
that works to assist those in the children's protective system.

GLOBAL began the drive Monday, and it will last until Thursday.

UH students, faculty and staff may drop off unwrapped toys to drop-boxes
in the campus residence halls and the Campus Activities office, located
in the UC Underground. Cash donations will also be accepted and will be
used to purchase additional gifts or wrapping paper.

Child Advocates works to mobilize court-appointed volunteers to stop
child abuse by speaking up for abused children trapped in the system. They
then take steps to guide the children into safe environments to break the
cycle of abuse.

According to the organization, many of these children find themselves
between homes during the holidays and without any semblance of a normal
holiday celebration.

The organization was founded in 1984 as a local program for the National
Court Appointed Special Advocate program founded in 1977.